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Syzygium australe

scrub cherry

Myrtaceae eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Syzygium australe is an evergreen tree or large shrub reaching 26-50 feet (8-15 m) tall in the wild and often kept to 6-15 feet (1.8-4.5 m) as a clipped hedge. The leaves are opposite, glossy green, oval to lance-shaped, 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long, with new growth flushing bronze to coppery-red. Clusters of white flowers with fluffy stamens about 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) across appear in late spring and summer. The flowers are followed by oval red to magenta fleshy berries 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, each holding a single seed, and the fruit is edible with a tart, crisp flesh. It grows in moist, well-drained soils and tolerates regular clipping, which is why it is used for hedging. Pimple psyllid insects can disfigure the new growth with raised bumps, and susceptibility varies between forms.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, in coastal rainforest and along streams from southeastern New South Wales north into Queensland. It grows in subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest and gallery forest on moist, fertile soils, from near sea level to 3,000 feet (900 m).

Suggested Uses

Grown as a hedge, screen, and specimen tree at 2-15 feet (0.6-4.5 m) spacing depending on use. The red fruit is used fresh and in jams. Regular trimming as a hedge and psyllid susceptibility add to upkeep.

How to Identify

Recognized by opposite, glossy oval leaves 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long with bronze-red new growth. White flowers with fluffy stamens about 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) across are followed by oval red to magenta berries 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long. The red, ridged berries and bronze new flushes separate it from Syzygium smithii, which has rounder white to mauve fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height26' - 50'

Width/Spread13' - 26'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers in late spring and summer, October through January in the native range. The fluffy white flowers last 2-3 weeks and draw nectar-feeding insects and birds. Red fruit ripens from summer into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

glossy green with bronze new growth

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

It grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter with a pH of 5.5-7.0. Water regularly through the first two seasons; established plants tolerate short dry spells but grow and fruit more heavily with steady moisture. It tolerates light frost to about 28°F (-2°C) once established. Pimple psyllids raise bumps on new growth, and psyllid-resistant forms are available. It withstands repeated clipping and reshoots from old wood.

Pruning

Trim two or three times during the growing season to keep a dense hedge, or prune once in spring to shape a specimen. The plant tolerates hard pruning and reshoots from bare wood. Frequent light trimming removes affected new growth and reduces psyllid damage.

Pruning Schedule

early springsummer